Peter age 71, operable adenocarcinoma of the the pancreas.

Peter had surgery for pancreatic cancer In December 2001. It is now almost 6 years since that surgery so he is one of the few long term survivors.

Peter had retired early in his 50s and had stopped smoking 20 years ago.

2months before his surgery he had noticed some changes but pretended there were no problems. He became constipated, or at least had irregular bowel habits, ie not once a day, His urine became very orange and his stools pale and loose but not like diarrhea. He had no pain. He says:

"I went 'yellow' right at the beginning of November--but only slightly!

By the middle of November it was obvious for all to see and I saw my GP on Nov17 am and had first blood tests at St Peters ,Maldon straight afterwards.

My GP rang me at home the same evening to tell me the results confirmed his suspicions and that he had arranged an private appointment with a gastroenterologist am 20 November. Had Ct scan (at Broomfield nhs-but done privately) same afternoon and stented Nov23 privately but also at Broomfield. Incidently all these appointments were at Springfield Medical Centre (Bupa/Capio) also at Chelmsford and the journeys to and from Broomfield were by private ambulance courtesy of Springfield and with a nurse also provided by Springfield!

Saw my surgeon, Tom Kurzawinski, at London Clinic Nov 27am and had second CT Scan at Clinic pm same day. Admitted Dec 6 to Clinic and underwent surgery next day. The rest --as they say--is history and I returned home on Dec22,still in possession of one third of my Pancreas!!"

His surgeon says "Histology was moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. Lymph nodes were not involved but locally tumour was quite advanced. He decided not to have post op chemotherapy."

Peter's story is unusual because this sort of cancer, as with many others, can not only be fatal but it can also leave sufferers diabetic. In Peter's case he hasn't become diabetic and this allowed him to learn to fly following his recovery from surgery.

If Peter had become an insulin dependent diabetic, under Civil Aviation law, he would not have been allowed to learn to fly. However, in July 2003, after passing two Civil Aviation Authority medicals, Peter was able to realise his lifetime ambition and began learning to fly.

In 2004 Dr Sally Evans, Head of Aeromedical Section with the UK Civil Aviation Authority said of Peter's uniqueness, 'Mr d'Adhemar has done extremely well following surgery for cancer of the pancreas. Due to the expertise of his surgeon and with good fortune he did not develop any problems after his operation (which could have led to him becoming diabetic) and he is fit and well three years later. This type of cancer is relatively uncommon and it is very rare to do as well as Mr d'Adhemar has done. To progress sufficiently to be granted a medical certificate is extremely unusual.'